Blast-furnace top.



No. 851,128.. PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

J. W. GOGHER. I

BLAST FURNACE TOP. {\PPLIOATION FILED MAY 29, 1905.

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J. GOGHER. BLAST FURNACE TOP. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 29, 1905.

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JOHN W. GOCHER, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

BLAST-FURNACE TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed y 29, 1905. Serial No. 262,769.

Patented April 23, 1907.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. GOOHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blast- Furnace Tops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' My invention relates in general to blastfurnaces and particularly to the tops and to the expansion-chambers and down-comers connected therewith.

It has for its object to improve the construction of the tops of blast-furnaces by providing one or more expansion-chambers of large volume, which extend vertically far above the top of the furnace, and are connected with the furnace-chamber by means of ports of exceedingly large area; by providing explosion-valves for said chambers, which are located at the top thereof and have bleeder-valves co-operating therewith, and by providing down-comers which are connected with said chambers at a point intermediate of their ends, yet at a considerable distance above the top of thefurnace. By such a construction. the amount of ore, fuel, and other material carried into the downcomers is greatly reduced. and the liability of damage to the furnace-top in consequence of explosions is greatly lessened.

Heretofore blast-furnaces have usually been provided with expansion-chambers of comparatively small volume located within the confines of the furnace or connected with the furnace-chamber by means of ports of small area and tortuous passages; the explosion valves for said chambers have been located near the top of the stack and have been separate from the bleeder-valves; and the down-comers have likewise been connected with the furnace-chamber near the top thereof. As the result of such constructions the furnace-tops have been frequently damaged by explosion resulting from one cause or another and large quantities of ore, fuel, and other material have been carried into the atmosphere through the explosion-valves or into the down-comer, all of which entail damage done the hot-blast stoves and other apparatus by its presence. In the present invention however, the gases of explosion have ample space for expansion and almost a direct passage to the atmosphere, thereby avoiding the possibility of damage to the furnace-top. Since the chambers are vertical, most, if not all, of the ore, fuel, and other material, carried up by an explosion, especially the heavier particles drops back into the stack, thus effecting a considerable saving. The down-comers are connected with the expansion-chambers, by means of a cross-pipe located intermediate of the ends of said chambers yet at a considerable distance above the top of the furnace, wherebyless matter is carried into them from the stack. By combining the explosion-valves and bleeder-valves a saving in the cost of construction is also accomplished.

Referring to these drawings :Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the top of ing the gas ports connecting the furnace and expansion-chambers.

Referring more especially to Fig. 1, the top of the stack is designated by 1, the charging and distributing-hoppers by 2 and 3 respectively, their respective bells by 4 and 5, and the charging-platform by 6. Each of the bells is provided with suitable operating means and all of the parts above enumerated may be of the usual or any desired form and hence need not be further described here.

Mounted vertically above the walls of the stack and substantially in line therewith are the expansion-chambers 7 which are exceptionally high and of large volume and are preferably cylindrical in form. As herein shown, there are four of these which are united at their tops by suitable girders, which serve to strengthen the whole structure. Each of them is connected with the furnacelossthe cost of repairing the damaged tops and also the loss of the ore, fuel, and other material or the expense involved in returni ing it to the furnace and in repairing the saving.

The expansion-chambers are connected in pairs by cross-pipes 1 1 to which down-comers 12 are connected respectively. A man-hole 13 is provided in each of these cross-pipes to permit their being cleaned. All of these gas conduits are made after the usual method, that is, they are formed of a sheet-metal shell which is lined with some refractory substance, as firebrick.

Mounted on top of each of the expansionchambers, and adapted to operate vertically, is an explosion-valve 14 which is provided with a seat 15 secured to the shell of the chamber. The weight of the valves is thus most effective in holding them closed and a direct and unobstructed passage to the atmosphere is provided when they are open. The openings in the seats also are of the same size and shape as the inside of the chamber so that no resistance to the passage of the gases is offered thereby. In order to insure the return of the valves to their seats, after being raised by an excessive pressure within the chambers, each is provided with guide-rods 16 preferably three in number, which play in suitable guides 17. The lower ends of these rods are held in the same relative position as the upper ends by being secured to a flanged ring 18 encircling the chamber, which slides on chafing-irons 19 secured to the shell. The guide-rods are provided with buffer-springs 20 which relieve the shock when the valve reaches the limit of its movement.

Bleeder-valves 21 are preferably located at the center of the explosion-valves, thus forming two in one, thereby simplifying and cheapening the cost of construction. Less resistance is also offered the gases of ex losion, by such a valve. The bleeder-va ves are 0 erated by means of the usual lever 22, suita ly mounted, and the chains 23 connecting the same and the rods or wires 24 extending to the base of the furnace.

From the above description, the advantages of the invention are evident. The possibility of damage to the furnace as a result of an explosion is avoided by making the volume of the expansion-chambers very large and by providing a substantially direct passage-way from the furnace-chamber to the atmos here. As the chambers extend vertically ar above the furnace top, most, if not all, of the material, carried up by the current of gases, is allowed to drop back into the furnace. By connecting the down-comers with the expansion-chambers through the agency of a cross-pipe located intermediate of the ends of said chambers and a considerable distance above the top of the furnace, less material is carried into the down-comers. By these means a material saving in material, the cost of handling the same and repairs is effected. Also a more effective explosion-valve is produce by forming the bleeder-valve a part thereof and the cost of construction is reduced.

One of the particular features of my ar rangement of expansion chambers is that they are located as nearly in a straight line above the furnace top as possible consistent with the proper construction and operation of the furnace charging apparatus. It will also be noted that my expansion chambers are located in pairs, one on each side of the furnace charging apparatus and the cross pipes, which connect the two adjoining expansion chambers which form a pair, are so located, as shown particularly by the plan view in Fig. 2, as to leave a clear opening above and around the center of the furnace 5 and its charging ap aratus thereby facilitating the operation of charging and repairs or changing of the charging apparatus as may be required in service.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. In a blast-furnace the combination with the stack, of an explosion-chamber of large diameter to thereby maintain low gas-velocity therein located substantially in line with the wall at one side thereof and extending vertically far above the same, a charginghopper, a port below said hopper having a steeply inclined bottom connecting said chamber with the interior of said stack and a down-comer connected with said chamber intermediate of its ends and at a point a considerable distance above the top of said stack.

2. A blast-furnace having a furnace-chamber, a plurality of expansion-chambers connected therewith and extending above the same, said expansionchambers being arranged in pairs; a cross-pipe connecting each pair of adjoining expansion-chambers, and a down-comer connected with said cross-pipe at its side opposite the center of the furnace.

3; A blast-furnace having a furnace-chamber, a plurality of expansion-chambers connected therewith and extending vertically far above the same, said expansion-chambers being arranged in pairs; an explosion-valve located at the upper end of said expansionchambers, a cross-pipe connecting, each pair said rods, buffer springs on said rods, a

bleeder-valve forming a part of said valve, and means for operating said bleeder-valve.

5. A blast-furnace having a furnace-chamber, and expansion-chamber of large diameter to thereby maintain low gas-velocity therein, said expansion chamber extending vertically far above the furnace top; and an 15 explosion-valve at the top of said expansionchamber adapted to operate vertically and having a bleeder-valve forming a part thereof and means for operating said bleeder valve.

In testimony whereof I hereto afliX my 20 signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. GOOHER.

Witnesses:

ELMER SEAVEY, OHAs. N. CHAMBERS. 

